Prospective Students Are Encouraged to Verify the Status of Their Chosen Study Programme
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Summer is the busiest admissions period for higher education institutions in Latvia. For both Latvian and international prospective students, choosing a study programme is one of the most important decisions they will make, as it will shape their future academic and professional opportunities. Before submitting an application, prospective students are therefore encouraged to check that the higher education institution they intend to study at is accredited and that the chosen study programme complies with the relevant legal requirements.
Why Is This important?
Choosing a higher education institution or study programme without carrying out the necessary checks can have long-term consequences, including affecting your ability to obtain a state-recognised diploma and to continue your studies or pursue a professional career. Verifying the status of a study programme is therefore not merely advisable – it is an essential step in making an informed and confident decision about your education.
Who Oversees the Quality of Higher Education?
The Quality Agency for Higher Education (AIKA) is an independent quality assurance agency responsible for carrying out a key public function. It organises the accreditation of higher education institutions and study fields, licensing of study programmes in Latvia, as well as provides the public with information on the outcomes of quality assessment.
AIKA operates in accordance with Latvian legislation and the Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG), helping to promote the quality, international recognition and credibility of higher education in Latvia.
How Can You Be Sure That You Will Receive a State-Recognised Diploma?
According to Article 9 of the Law on Higher Education Institutions, a higher education institution may issue a state-recognised diploma if:
- the higher education institution is accredited (and, in the case of a university-type institution, its type is registered in the Register of Higher Education Institutions); and
- the study programme is implemented in accordance with the applicable legal requirements.
Where Can You Check the Information?
On the Higher Education Institution
Information on the accreditation of higher education institutions, as well as the institutional types of universities, is available in the State Education Information System (VIIS).
On the Study Programme
The status of study programmes can be checked:
- In the State Education Information System (VIIS);
- On the AIKA e-platform, where expert assessments (reports) and detailed information about study programmes are also available:
What Should You Pay Particular Attention To?
A Licensed Programme Is Not Necessarily an Accredited One
A study programme may be licensed but not yet fall within an accredited study field. This may happen when a higher education institution launches a new study field. The law requires the accreditation process for the new study field to begin within two years of the commencement of the first programme in that field.
In such cases, the programme is licensed but has not yet been accredited. This does not automatically mean that graduates will be unable to receive a state-recognised diploma. However, prospective students should be aware of the programme’s status and monitor the progress of the accreditation process.
Check the Accreditation Period
Before choosing a study programme, verify that the relevant study field is accredited.
If the accreditation period for a study field expires and a new accreditation decision has not yet been taken, the higher education institution cannot issue a state-recognised diploma to graduates of that study field until the new decision has been made.
However, this does not apply to study fields that are currently accredited for six years. In such cases, accreditation remains valid until a decision has been taken on the institutional accreditation of the higher education institution. Institutional accreditation will be introduced in accordance with a publicly available timetable from 2028 onwards.
Use Official Sources to Verify the Information
Information published on the website of a higher education institution may vary in the level of detail provided or how frequently it is updated. To confirm the accreditation or licensing status of a study programme, prospective students are encouraged to consult the official information sources:
https://www.viis.gov.lv/registri/izglitibas_programmas
https://eplatforma.aika.lv/index.php?r=site%2Fprogram%2Flist
These sources provide the most up-to-date information on accreditation periods and the outcomes of quality assessments.
Know Your Rights!
If a study programme is discontinued, the higher education institution is obliged to provide students with an opportunity to continue their studies on another programme or at another higher education institution.
If a study programme is not accredited or its licensing is revoked due to the actions or omissions of the higher education institution, and a student does not wish to continue their studies on an alternative programme, they are entitled to compensation in accordance with the applicable legislation.
Higher education institutions are required to keep students informed in a timely manner about the progress of the accreditation process, any potential risks, and the measures planned to address them.
Institutional Accreditation from 2028
From 1 January 2028, Latvia will fully implement a cyclical institutional accreditation, which will gradually replace the current system of accrediting individual study fields.
For study fields accredited for six years, the accreditation decision will remain valid until the relevant higher education institution has received its institutional accreditation decision.
Where a study field has been accredited for two years, or where the accreditation process of the study field has not yet been completed, AIKA encourages prospective students to enquire directly with the relevant higher education institution about the current status
Make an Informed Choice
When choosing a study programme, we encourage you to take the time to check its status. Doing so will help you make an informed decision and provide confidence that the higher education you obtain will be state-recognised and meet established quality standards.
